B&A RFC 2nd XV 44, Wells RFC 2nd XV 12 (22/04/13)

After several hard weeks, Albion’s second string recorded a much needed and welcome victory. In ideal rugby conditions Bridgwater kicked off and immediately began to dominate. The forwards were running hard and the backs produced some slick hands to send Dave Rae over in the corner for an early try. Hill produced an admirable attempt on goal but was unsuccessful.

Bridgwater clearly had the upper hand early on and quickly produced a similar try on the other wing for the everyoung Dave Norman following good work from late call up and utility back James Coates.

With barely fifteen minutes gone, Albion scored again. Wells cleared the ball to touch just outside their 22 metre line, Gav Knight threw the ball straight and true to Tom Sparks, who had an outstanding day in the lineout, stealing many a ball from Wells. A maul was formed, and driven all the way to the try line, with Stradling producing the flop over the line for the points.

Wells did produce several breaks into the opposition half, but excellent cover tackling and counter rucking ensured the ball came back into bridgy hands. Following some tremendous ball carrying from Sam Russell among others, the back again produce some wonderful passing to send Dan Steward over the whitewash for a try in the left hand corner.

With Bridgwater on top and seeming to dominate all facets of the game, Wells were able to make up some ground with an entrepreneurial score, following several good offloads and some quick ball recycling. The try was converted. At this point Sam Russell was forced off the pitch with a knee injury to be replaced by the influential James Higginson.

The half time score was a comfortable 22 – 5 to Bridgwater.

The second half began more evenly, with having Wells reorganised their team, were able to disrupt Albions flow. They produced some good rugby to allow their number 6, who had a fantastic game, to score a good back-rowers try.

Bridgy pulled their act together and following good field position, Jon Hill dummied and sniped a fine try under the posts, which he duly converted.

The restart was then gathered by Stradling who trucked the ball upfield, quick recycling allowed the ball to be spread wide through the backs, unleashing the ageing Hambleton, who jinked his way upfield to score a try in the right corner.

The final try was scored be hooker Gav Knight following another driving maul following and lineout 10m out from the Wells line.

Albion then introduced Justyn “Badger Boy” McCarthy onto the left wing for his 2^nd team debut. It was nearly a tryscoring debut but unfortunately he was edged out in the corner whilst in the act of going for the try.

This was probably the second teams’ best performance of the season, dominating play in all areas of the game, which never allowed Wells to get into the game. They will be looking to take confidence from this performance into their final match of the season away at Chard next weekend.

Team: Hambleton, Coates, Lang, Steward, Rae, Hill, Drabble, Saunders, Knight, Moulding, Sparkes, Norman, Clark, Stradling (Capt), Russell.

Reps (All Used): Walker, Higginson, McCarthy. 

Category: 2nd Previews / Reports -XV, 2nd XV News